Growing

Cannabis Seeds 101: How to Find and Grow the Best Seeds

GrowingPosted Sep 1 2019

Out of all drugs that exist, cannabis is the most commonly consumed and cultivated illicit drug in the world. Millions of individuals consume cannabis for purely medicinal reasons, but others consume it recreationally. Regardless of why cannabis is consumed, most consumers don't think about how the products they consume were made and where they started, especially cannabis seeds. All cannabis products originate somewhere whether it was as a seed or as a cannabis clone. Recently, what has interested numerous consumers and cultivators alike are the types of marijuana seeds there are, where to get weed seeds and the benefits of growing cannabis from high-quality seeds. Keep reading to discover more answers about pot seeds and reasons why certain seeds are becoming staples in the cannabis cultivation sector.

What Are Cannabis Seeds?

Cannabis seeds are seeds used by cultivators that undergo multiple growing stages to become fully developed and mature cannabis plants. Depending on a seed's specific strain and the environmental growing conditions that are used, cultivators can expect to reap a plentiful yield come harvest time. What's interesting about traditional cannabis seeds is that they possess characteristics of both a male (father) and female (mother) plant.

Although growing cannabis from seeds requires more time for the plants to develop as compared to using cannabis clones for example, this method allows growers to experience the entire cultivation process from beginning to end. Also, several experienced cultivators including Amsterdam-based Soma have reported that growing cannabis from seeds leads to more fruitful and higher quality yields.

Even though growing cannabis from seeds may be daunting, it's a very rewarding experience no matter how experienced of a grower you are. However, it's important to keep in mind that using the highest quality seeds is essential so your cannabis plant(s) can flourish and reach their full potential. Before diving into what makes a cannabis seed a quality one, let's touch on the different types of cannabis seeds there are.

Three Types of Cannabis Seeds: Traditional, Feminized, and Auto-flowering

If you want to buy marijuana seeds, it's crucial to understand the three types of cannabis seeds that exist and which one(s) will suit your growing needs and wants the best. Overall, cannabis plants are capable of producing both female and male cannabis seeds if they undergo a natural pollination process and if conventional breeding methods are used. As far as the types of cannabis seeds go, there are traditional, feminized, and auto-flowering seeds.

Traditional Cannabis Seeds:

Growing cannabis from traditional seeds is quite common, but what can be frustrating is that these seeds have a 50/50 chance of creating male cannabis plants, which contain less medicinal and therapeutic benefits as compared to female plants. Although traditional cannabis seeds are still used to this day, they're less efficient than growing cannabis from feminized seeds.

Feminized Cannabis Seeds: Are They Becoming the New Norm?

Next are feminized cannabis seeds, which are bred to create only female plants at the time they're planted. Ultimately, feminized seeds are created with the intention of them possessing no male chromosome whatsoever. One of the main purposes of using feminized cannabis seeds is so they can make trichome-rich buds that contain a multitude of benefits cannabis users can experience and benefit from.

When growing cannabis for the first time, to ensure that all seeds are female and will produce female plants, it's suggested to use feminized seeds. In recent years, feminized seeds have become a staple for cannabis growers around the world because they can save cultivators both growing space and precious time.

Auto-flowering Cannabis Seeds: A Temporary Cultivation Trend, Or Are They Here To Stay?

Over time, numerous cultivators have been trying to nail down the best and most efficient growing methods to produce the most abundant and high-quality yields possible. One way of doing this is by incorporating Cannabis ruderalis (a sub-species of the cannabis plant) into an individuals' at-home or commercial grow. Cannabis ruderalis is mostly used for its auto-flowering abilities, which is where auto-flowering cannabis seeds come into play.

In addition, it has become more popular for cultivators to cross some of their plants with cannabis ruderalis in order to produce auto-flowering cannabis seeds. Of course, there are other benefits of incorporating cannabis ruderalis into one's home grow such as the plant's high CBD content, which grabs the attention of cultivators and consumers alike.

What's especially unique about cannabis ruderalis is that it flowers based on its own genetic schedule due to both maturity and age rather than being based on an appropriate timed light cycle. Essentially, auto-flowering is a characteristic that provides a cannabis plant with the capability to begin and complete the flowering stage based on the plant's age without factoring in a timed light cycle. Surprisingly, auto-flowering cannabis seeds can start flowering in as little as two to four weeks. Based on these benefits and several others, more growers are shifting towards using auto-flowering cannabis seeds during the cultivation process.

Which Aspects Make a Cannabis Seed High-Quality?

After learning about the types of weed seeds that exist and some of their benefits, what makes a quality cannabis seed? Genetics play a large role such as the cannabis seed's specific strain and its inherited traits. Other aspects that contribute to cannabis seeds being deemed as quality ones include their color, texture, shape, size, and weight.

Also, quality cannabis seeds usually come at a high price and for valid reasons. Cultivators get what they pay for and if the cost of cannabis seeds is high due to its unique genetics, this tends to be a sign that the seeds are quality. Sometimes, though, cannabis seeds cost a lot but they're not high-quality. Therefore, it's recommended to closely examine and analyze cannabis seeds before buying them.

Aside from the cost of cannabis seeds, you may wonder how to get weed seeds. A few options include local dispensaries, pot shops, and seed bank websites. Keep in mind though that marijuana seeds' legality vary based on where you live, so do some research before buying cannabis seeds.

The next time you come across cannabis seeds or if you're asked about them, you now know what to look for in regards to quality and the three types of seeds to choose from. If you plan on growing cannabis in the future, which type of cannabis seed would you use, and why?